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The Metropolitan Detention Center is facing a civil lawsuit, claiming the jail does not do enough to protect its female inmates.

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Updated: 10:50 PM MST Jan 28, 2015

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WEBVTT THE METROPOLITAN DETENTION CENTER IS FACING A CIVIL LAWSUIT ... CLAIMING THE JAIL DOESN'T DO ENOUGH TO PROTECT ITS FEMALE INMATES FROM SEXUAL ABUSE. JUST LAST YEAR, A FORMER GUARD WAS ACCUSED OF HAVING SEX WITH AN INMATE. TODAY, ACTION 7 NEWS REPORTER MEGAN CRUZ INVESTIGATES WHAT'S BEING DONE, TO BETTER PROTECT PRISONERS. ANDRES VERDUGO IS NO LONGER A CORRECTIONS OFFICER AT THE METROPOLITAN DETENTION CENTER. LAST JUNE, A FEMALE INMATE CLAIMED VERDUGO RAPED HER--AND IS SUING THE JAIL FOR NOT DOING ENOUGH TO PREVENT SEXUAL ABUSE. IN 2008, THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FOUND M-D-C HAD THE THIRD HIGHEST RATE OF SEXUAL ABUSE IN THE COUNTRY. There needs to be a good reporting system and oversight, and male officers should never have free reign in female pods. HER ATTORNEY SAYS THE VICTIM WAS STAYING IN AN ALL-FEMALE POD, WHICH VERDUGO SUPERVISED. SHE CLAIMS VERDUGO WOULD WATCH FEMALE INMATES SHOWER. ONE DAY, SHE SAYS HE "FORCIBLY HAD SEX" WITH HER, IN A CLOSET. We would love cameras everywhere, just like anything else. We would love more staffing everywhere is that going to possible and probable would be hard to say. MDC CAPTAIN RAY GONZALES SAYS THE JAIL HAS MADE BIG IMPROVEMENTS. JAIL CELL WINDOWS HAVE BEEN FROSTED TO GIVE INMATES MORE PRIVACY IN THE RESTROOM, AND With the shower barrier the inmates will bring it out here, put the shower barrier in the front but you can still see the feet, and the top torso. Another new feature, and probably the most important, is this sexual abuse hotline. Inmates can make anonymous tips about sexual abuse. Staff check these tips daily. Those are nice interim fixes, but I think the ultimate problem is somebody this dangerous shouldn't be working with a vulnerable population. AND, GONZALES SAYS, ALL PROSPECTIVE CORRECTIONS OFFICERS UNDERGO A PYSCH EVALUATION BEFORE BEING HIRED. IN ALBUQUERQUE, MEGAN CRUZ, KOAT ACTION 7 NEWS. MALE CORRECTIONS OFFICERS CAN STILL SUPERVISE FEMALE PODS AT THE JAIL. ANDRES VERDUGO HAS RESIGNED, AND AWAITS HIS CRIMINAL

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MDC Addressing Sex Assaults

The Metropolitan Detention Center is facing a civil lawsuit, claiming the jail does not do enough to protect its female inmates.